On Friday, 13th October, at 18:00 the Air Ambulance was presented to an enthusiastic crowd. Approximately 1500 residents of Paros were on hand to admire this new acquisition for their health and safety and to participate in its benediction.
The purchase, outfitting and conversion of the aircraft into an Air Ambulance cost the Velentzio Institute approximately 600,000 Euro, and its maintenance will cost less than 10% of the City’s annual budget for public works.
Each year there is an urgent need to transport approximately 150 patients to critical care facilities outside of Paros. The Air Ambulance will insure the immediate transfer of residents and/or visitors whose lives are at risk, without delay, as it will be based on the island in a constant state of readiness. The aircraft will execute only medically related flights and its use will be controlled by the Paros Medical Center Physicians whose responsibility it will be to evaluate each medical emergency.
Mrs. Athanasia Kaskinidi-Sarri, President of the Velentzio Institute, greeted the grateful residents of Paros and Mayor Ragousis also addressed the gathering, thanking once again all who contributed to the realization of this most significant development. He also stated that the next step is the long term task of upgrading the island’s medical center into a full service general hospital.